RBS Bonus Draws Criticism

By

Ainsley Thomson And

Sara Schaefer Muñoz

Updated Jan. 27, 2012 12:54 p.m. ET

News of the nearly £1 million bonus award for Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC's chief executive provoked an outburst of criticism Friday, with some saying the award was too big considering Britain's economic struggles.

Late Thursday, RBS said it is awarding CEO Stephen Hester a bonus of around £963,000 ($1.5 million), paid fully in shares that will be deferred until 2014, capping weeks of public wrangling over payouts at the British...